Fool's Luck story
Rome, AD 41–43. The leaders of the Praetorian Guard and Herod convince Claudius that he should take up the Imperial crown, since the alternative would mean the death of his family as well as civil war. Claudius in turn convinces the Senate to proclaim him Emperor. In his first act, he condemns Cassius for the murder of Caesonia, but pardons the other conspirators. Livia is finally deified and made a goddess. After successfully bearing Claudius children, Messalina convinces him to share the burdens of power with her. As Herod will soon be leaving to take control of the lands in the East that Claudius has granted him, Messalina suggests that Appius Silanus, a Senator, be brought in to assist her husband. Later her mother Domitia and Silanus marry. Before Herod leaves he warns Claudius that, as Emperor, Claudius must trust no one, not his advisors, not his wife, not even Herod himself. Messalina attempts to seduce Silanus and tells him that Claudius approves, being just as corrupt as the Emperors who preceded him. Silanus then attempts to kill Claudius in the hopes of ending the line of depraved rulers. Messalina, with her mother's help, convinces Claudius of her own innocence and Silanus is put to death.
23 total · 2 choice · 7 major · 14 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| courtly intrigues | choice | The plot turns on people of influence jockeying for power in the imperial court of Claudius. Notably, Messalina convinced Claudius to share the burdens of power with her and she was hungry to become the next Livia. |
| life in Ancient Rome | choice | The drama is mainly set in 41-43 AD within the imperial court of Claudius in Rome. |
| betrayal | major | Messalina betrayed Silanus by lying to Claudius. Silanus was executed as a result. |
| coping with the rigors of command | major | Claudius reluctantly took up the imperial crown. He didn't care for the dangers and responsibilities associated with the position. But once in the role he worked hard, demonstrating himself to be up to the task. He, for instance, spearheaded the rebuilding of the harbor at Ostia. |
| democracy vs. autocracy | major | The senators wanted to bring back the Republic. The Praetorian Guard and Herod convinced Claudius that he should take up the imperial crown since the alternative would mean the death of his family as well as civil war. |
| husband and wife | major | The story much concerned Claudius and Messalina ruling Rome more or less together. Domitia betrayed her husband, Silanus, to cover for her daughter's lies. |
| romantic infidelity | major | Messalina made a play at Silanus behind Claudius' back. |
| romantic love | major | Claudius and Messalina spoke about love at length. |
| unrequited love | major | Messalina confessed to Silanus that she'd loved him even since she was a little girl. Messalina turned vindictive when Silanus, a man old enough to be her grandfather, refused to sleep with her. |
| compassion | minor | Claudius commended Messalina's soft heart when she, incongruously, pleaded for Silanus' life. |